Types of Interest Groups Economic Business Umbrella groups

Types of Interest Groups • Economic* – Business • Umbrella groups represent types of business or industry – – Ex. US Chamber of Commerce Ex. National Association of Manufacturers Ex. American Pet Products Manufacturers Ex. Better Business Bureau – Agricultural • Small by population but very influential – Ex. American Farm Bureau Federation – Ex. The Peanut Growers Group – Ex. American Farmland Trust – Labor • About 12% of the workforce belong to a union – Ex. AFL-CIO – Public-Employee • more public-sector members than private-sector members – Ex. NEA – Professional • Many different groups represented – Ex. American Bar Association – Ex. American Medical Association *largest category of interest groups

Types of Interest Groups • Environmental – National Audubon Society – Sierra Club – National Wildlife Federation – Environmental Defense Fund – Greenpeace

Types of Interest Groups • Public-Interest – Many different “publics” in a country of 300 m+ • “Nader Organizations” – “Nader’s Raiders” • • ACLU League of Women Voters Common Cause Move. On. org

Types of Interest Groups • Other – Single issue groups • More focused • Members more passionate • Less complex goals – Ex. NRA • Foreign – Over 300 foreign entities represented by lobbyists